Friction-clutch.



' wt'inesse g? fag-4W I R. PLNDER- FRICTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILEDFEB. 27,-"1911.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

R. PIN-DER. FRICTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27; 1911.

1,007,310, Patented Oct. 31,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ZIJZZTWESSG I I R. FINDER. FRICTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB.27,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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" Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

UNITED STATES liATEN T OFFICE.

RUDOLPH FINDER, OF HUDSON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF Tl) GEORGEW. PARKER, OF HUDSON, I IASSACHUSETTS.

rnIc'rioiv-cLUrcH.

To all whom it may concern:- Be it known that I, Rononrn 'Pmonn,residing at Hudson, in the county of Middlesex and-State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in F riction- Clutches,- ofwhich the following is a specifi cation.

This lnventlon relates to friction clutches and is embodied in that typeof clutch comprising two cylindrical, concentrically arranged memberswith an annular space be tween them, one serving as the drivingmemberand the other as the driven member, and the invention has for its objectcertain improvements in the clutch-ring which is arranged in saidannular space, and actuatingmeans therefor, whereby a very powerfulclutch isproduced which may be easily and quickly operated.

My invention consists essentially in a nesilient split clutch-ringadapted to be arranged in said annular space, haying an engagingsurfaceapproximately as large as the-area 'of the cylindrical surface ofthe inner clutch-member which 'it is designed to engage, andhaving anormal tendency to expand, to disengage said inner clutch-memher, one ofits ends being held in fixedrelation tothe outer clutch-inember'and itsother'end being movable to contract the ring to engage said innerclutchmember. a ..As a means to move the end of the clutchring a cam-barisemployed, extending the full length of the ring, which is interposedbetween a lug on theend of the ring and an abutment on the outer member,and actuating means is provided to rock said cam-bar to move the end ofthe clutch-ring to cause said ring to engage the inner clutch-member.The actuating-means for said camTba-r in; volves two. essential parts,which are disconnected from cachet-her, one of which is conneeted withthe cam-bar,'and said parts are constructed and arranged to 006 crate torock the cam-bar,-but.are indepen ently restored tonormal, as forinstance, the part connected with the. cam-bar and the cambar itself are-resmred to normal by the es:- panding clutch-ring, when said ring ispermitted to expand. This clutch is designed to run in a bath of oil.

longitudinal vertical section ()fllldCllltCh Specification of LettersPatent.- V Patented Oct, 31, 1911, Application filed rebr sr az 1911.Serial No. 611,057.

shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the dotted line 3-3,Fig. 2, the clutch-ring being contracted. Fig. 4 is a similarcross-section, the clutch-ring expanded. Fig. '5 is a sectional detai ofthe being 7 outer clutch-member, clutch-ring and cambar for contractingsaid clutch-ring. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the clutch-ring. Fig. 7 is aside. elevation of the clutch-ring. Fig.- 8 is a sectional detail of theouter clutchmember, clutch-ring and adjusting-device for holding one endof said clutch-ring in fixed relation to the outer-member. Fig. 9

centrically arranged with an annular space 40 between them. The innerclutch-member 30 consists of a hollow shell comprising a cylindricalortion and an end wall, and said member is secured to a shaft 31, whichmay be the driving-shaft and hence said member 30 will serve as thedriving-member. Said member 30 has within it a centerspindle 32uponwhich the actuating-means for the clutch'ring is slidably. mounted.The outer clutch-member. 20 consists of a hollow cylindrical casecomprising a cylindrical portion and end walls. at the opposite. endsthereof to form a closed case. One of the end 'wallsis splined, orotherwise secured to a shaft 21, which may be the driven shaft and ispreferably formed integral with the cylindrial portion, hence saidmember 20 will serve as the-driven member. The other end wall is made asa se varate plate 22, adapted to be secured to t e cylindrical portionand having a center'- hole thro 'gh it ada ting it'to be loosely mountedZn the she. t '31 -The cylindrical portion of said member 20 has aninternal recess 23 extended longitudinally, approinmately from end toend thereof, which IS in open communication with the annular spaceSaidrecess may be formed in the cyll drical portion of the case, bycasting or otherwise, although, as shown in Fig. 12 a metallic rin 24ismade with an opening in its 'side to orln said recess, and'saidring.is fitted into the cylindrical case and secured thereto.- The"clutch-ring 50 is arranged in said annular space 40. It consists of aresilient split band made to substantially encircle the innervclutch-member 30. and when contracted to engage said member. it has anormal tendency to expand. so that normally it entirely disengage-s saidmember. One end of said ring is designed to be held in fixed relation to13 the outer member: and in Figs. 3 to 9 it is adjustably held. and inFig. 14 it is secured directly to the outer member. In Figs. 3 to 9 saidclutch-ring has secured to its ends. respectivel 'v, outwardlyprojecting l5 lugs 51, which extend from side to side ht the ring andwhich enter the recess 23 in 'the outer member. The lug 51 is held tixedwith relation to said outer member, and. as here'shoivn. a wedge-block53 is 5 placedbetween said lug 51 and one end wall ol the recess 23.which fills the. space between them. so that the lug bears against: thewedge-blm-k and the wedge=bloek bears against the end wall of therecess. 'The 25 relative position of the lug may be varied by moving thewedge-block longitudinally,

a result which may be zu'complished by turning a screw 54. which extendsthrough Jthe wall of the outer member and enters a. screw-thrcadedsocket-in the wedge-block. in Fig. It this end of the clutch-ring issecured directly to the outer member by a screw 'lhe lug at the. otherend of the ring is located a short'distanee from the 5 end wall 56 oftherecess 23. and in the space thus provided a cam-bar tit) is placedwhich extends from end to end of the lug, and is of such shape as toengage both the lug and the end wall Fit the recess, which 40 latterforms an abutment at) to behereinafter referred to. Said cam-bar isadapted to be rocked to move the lug in a direction away from theabutment 5t). and such movementresults in contracing the ring 'to causeit to engage the inner clutch-member. and when permitted to return tonormal said cam-bar is' rocked. in the opposite direction by thepressure upon it of the expanding ring. 'lo rock the cam-bar to contractthe 5 ring any suitable means may be employed. so far as my presentinvention lSt'fiIICGIllCtl but the means here'shown is simple andeffective.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 10

and 11 .the cam-bar is provided at one end with a short arm 61, whichextends inward overthe end of the. inner clutcli-member. thus occupyinga position close to the inner face: of the. end wall of the outerclutch- 0 member, and said arm has an inclined portion ()2 adapted to beenga ed by the end of aieverditi, pivoted at 64 to. saul end wall, theopposite end f said ltYPFlltlVillg an upwardlyznid outwardly extendedpor- 65 tion (35,- provided at its cxtrcinitywvith a spherical orotherformed engaging porvtlon. Pressure upon said spherical engaging portionacts' to move the lever on its pivot to in turn move thev arm. (31 fromthe position shown 'in Fig. 4, to the position shown in Fig. 3, tothereby rock the cam-bar and contract the clutch-ring. \Vhcn pressureupon said sphericalend portion is relieved, the cam-bar is caused toreturn to normal position bypressure upon said bar of the expandingclutch-ring, and the lever is likewise r tnrned to normal' position.

The resiliency of the clutch-ring normally keeps the portion'62 of thecam-bar in cngagement with the lower end of the'lever (l3 and thespherical end of said lever in engagement with the cone to preventrattling while the clutch is released. To move said lever a cone isslidably mounted on the center-spindle 32 of the inner clutch-them ber,andthe spherical engaging-portion of said lever occupies a positionadjacent said cone. so as to be engaged by it Said cone is connected toa cross-bar 71, and the ex-, 'tremities of said cross-bar are attachedby rods 72. extended through the end wall of the outer clutch-member toa sliding collar 73. mounted on the shaft 21. Said collar hasacircumferentialgroove 74, to receive the. bifurcated end of a lever ofany suit-- able description, which is'employed tocon trol the slidingmovement of the collar on the, shaft in a direction to slide the cone-70toward the left. Fig. 2, to engage the clutch, and said collar is thusmoved along on the shaft. by means of a spring 76. which is arranged inthe collar and encircles the shaft. The. cone 'will thus be forced bythe spring against the intermediate lever with a strong but yieldingpressure. to rock the cam-bar and contract the elutch-ring. The springis under considerable compression. and by reason of the re] eatedvibrations of the parts it exerts an intluence upon the cone tending tomove it toward the left so that the. intermediate lev-r is caused togradually creep up farther, o'n the cone. Thus there is a constanttendency for the clntch-ring to tighten. The. collar is'moved in theopposite direction. or toward the left, to correspondingly move the coneamlrelease the. clutch-ring. and during such movement. of the collar thespring 76 is compressed.

liy constructing the clutch-ring as here sho,\\n aml providing a ram-barfor contracting-it to engage the. inner clutch-membcr a.very powerfulfrictional engagement is prmluced. so that. a clutch of small size maybe employed to perform heavy duty.

In .Fig. 12. wherein a lining ring 24. usually of a dill'erent metalfrom the cylindrical shell is emplqved. said ring will be secured tosaid shell by screws 80, or other- \\'i c. 'lhe recess :23 may beprovided by makingthe ring as an open or split ring,

and an outer member of, cheaper construction is thus produced.

vIn Figs. 1 to 12, the shaft 31 is usually the driving-shaft and theshaft 21 the drivenshaft, but my clutch is adapted tobe usedinterchangeably, as for instance,'it may be be seen that my invention issusceptible of.

I many. modifications which come within its spirit and scope.

I clann:-

1. A friction-clutch comprising two cylindrical, concentrically arrangedmembers with anannular spate between-them, one of said memberscomprising a closed casing, a resilient split clutch-ring arranged insaid space having a normal tendency to expand, means to hold one end ofsaid ring in fixed relation to the outer-member, a. cam-bar intel-posedbetween the other end ofi said ring and the outer-member, which isextended lengthwise the ring, and means within said casing to rock saidcam-bar to move the end of the ring to cause said ring'to frictionallyengage the inner-member. substantially as described.

2. A friction-clutch comprising two cylind ical, concentrically arrangedmembers with an annular space between them, a resilient splitclutch-ring arranged in said space having a normal tendency to expand,means to-hold one end of said ring in fixed relation to theouter-member, a cam-bar interposed between the other end of said ringand the outer-member, which is extended lengthwise the ring, a leverwhich is disconnected from said cambar and means arranged to actuatesaid lever to "cause'it to rock said cam-bar to move the end of the ringto cause said ring to frictionally engage the inner-member, whichpermits said cam-bar to be restored to normal by the ex pending ring,substantially as described.

3. A friction-clutch comprising two cylindrical, concentrically arrangedmembers with an annular space between them, a resilient splitclutch-ring arranged in said space having a normal tendency to expand,means to hold one end of said ring in fixed relation to theouter-member, a cam-bar interposed between the other end of the ring andthe outer-member which is extendedlengthwise said ring, an arm-extendedfrom said cambar, a lever arranged to engage said arm to rock thecam-bar, and means for moving said lever substantially as described.

4. A friction-clutch comprising two cylindrical, concentrically arrangedmembers with an annular space between them, a resilient splitclutch-ring arranged in said space having a normal tendency to expand,means to hold one end of saidring in fixed relation to the outer-member,a cam-bar interposed between the other end of the ring and theouter-member which. is extended lengthwise said ring, an arm extendedfrom said cam-bar, and independent means to engage said arm to rock thecam-bar, which is disconnected therefrom, to permit said cambar to, bereturned to normal independently thereof by the expanding ring,substantially as described. 5. A friction-clutch comprising twocylindrical, concentrically arranged members with an annular spacebetween then, one of said members comprising a closed casing, a

resilient split clutch-ring arranged in said space having a normaltendency to expand, means to hold one end of said ring in fixed relationto the outer member, a slidably mounted cone within said casing, meansarranged w1th1n said casing and actuated by said cone to engage theother end of said ring to move it to contract the ring and cause thelatter to frictionally engage the inner member. and means extendedthrough the end wall of said casing to slide said cone.

6. A friction-clutch comprising two cylindrical, concentrically arrangedmembers with an annular space between them and having. center holes, aresilient split clutchring arranged in said space having a normaltendency to expand and engage the outer member, means to hold one end ofsaid ring in fixed relation to the outer member, a cam to move the otherend of said ring to contract the latter and cause it to engage the innermember, a center-spindle \vit-hintheinner member, a cone slidablymounted on said spindle, an intermediate lever arranged between saidcone and cam,

and means to slide said cone on said spindle, substantially asdescribed.

silient split clutch-ring arranged in said space having a normaltendency to expand, means to hold one end of said ring in fixed relationto the outer member, spring-actuated means to engage the other end ofsaid ring to move it to contract the ring and cause it to frictionallyengage the inner member and controllingmeans for said spring-actuatedmeans, substantially as described.

8. A friction-clutch comprising two cylindrical, concentrically arrangedmembers with an annular space between them, a resilient splitclutch-ring arranged in said space having a normal, tendency to expand,

means to hold one, end of said ring in fixed relation to the outermember, a cam-bar interposed between the other end of said rin and theouter member, anal-m extende from said cam-bar, a lever arranged toengage said arm to rock'the cam-bar, said cam-bar being returned tonormal by the expanding ring to keep said arm in engagement with saidlever and prevent'rattling, subslantialtv as desoribml. I

- 9. A frirtion-clutrh,romprising two cylindrical, ('onrenlrirallyarranged members with an annular space lmtween'tholn, a resilient split-'clutch-ring arranged in said space ha ring a normal tendency to expand,

nieansto hold one end of said ring in fixed relation to the outermember, a slidably mounted cone, means opea'atively related to said(zone to engagethe other end of said ring, a spring for moving said coneto cause said ring to frieti'onally engage said inner member, and alever for moving said cone in the opposite direction and for compressingsaid spring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses..-

RUDOLPH FINDER.

\\"itnesses B. J. NOYES,

'H. B. Davrs.

